CFP: Medieval TV (9/15/06; Kalamazoo, 5/10/07-5/13/07)

full name / name of organization:

owner-cfp_at_lists.sas.upenn.edu

contact email:

owner-cfp@lists.sas.upenn.edu

>>>CALL FOR PAPERS--GETTING MEDIEVAL ON TELEVISION <<<

=20

=20

THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF POPULAR CULTURE AND THE MIDDLE AGES =<http://PopularCultureandtheMiddleAges.org> invites proposals for 15- to =20-minute papers on any aspect of the medieval in television programming =to be included in sessions devoted to the topic of "Getting Medieval on =Television" to be held at the 42nd International Congress on Medieval =Studies, which convenes at Western Michigan University from 10-13 May =2007. In addition, submissions will also be considered for inclusion =in an essay collection on the same topic. For potential topics and a =bibliographic guide to the medieval on film and television, please visit =THE MEDIEVAL STUDIES AT THE MOVIES web site at =<http://MedievalStudiesattheMovies.org>. =20

=20

Please submit abstracts of 250-500 words and complete contact =information, by 15 September 2006, to the session organizer at the =following address:

=20

Michael A. Torregrossa

34 2nd St

Smithfield, RI 02917-3627

Michael.A.Torregrossa_at_gmail.com

=20

=20

SESSION RATIONALE:

=20

With the success of Kevin J. Harty's THE REEL MIDDLE AGES (1999), most =medievalists and enthusiasts of the medieval period are now familiar =with the wide variety of medieval-themed films that have been produced =since the late nineteenth century, yet relatively few of these =individuals know about the equally active world of medieval-themed =television programming in existence since the 1950s. For the initiated, =it is fascinating world, which includes animated series (GARGOYLES), =comedies (MR. MERLIN), documentaries (TERRY JONES' CRUSADE), =made-for-television movies (MERLIN, MISTS OF AVALON, ROBIN HOOD), =reality programming (WARRIOR CHALLENGE), science fiction series (BABYLON =5, DOCTOR WHO, STARGATE SG-1), and westerns (BONANZA) in addition to the =expected action adventure and fantasy series (ADVENTURES OF SIR =LANCELOT, CHARMED, GUINEVERE JONES, MYTHQUEST). =20

=20

Like film medieval-themed television has produced some disappointments, =such as the appearance of the "B. O. Wolf" in an episode of the =BEETLEJUICE animated series or the extraterrestrial dragons that attack =medieval Carpathia in the telefilm DRAGONSTORM, but, also like medieval =film, medieval television has its gems--characters Frasier Crane and =Daphne Moon's appearance as Geoffrey Chaucer and the Wife of Bath on =NBC's FRAISER, the BBC's CADFAEL, and Nelvana Ltds's BLAZING DRAGONS, an =animated series co-created by Terry Jones, come most immediately to =mind. The purpose of these panels is to let the spotlight shine =briefly on this ephemeral cousin to medieval film and allow those who =know these works most intimately to share them with the wider audience =that they deserve. =20